Perception and intuition helps mold how we see people on the internet. Perception is how you see something/someone based on your senses or the mind. Intuition is direct perception of truth, fact, etc., independent of any reasoning process; immediate apprehension.
They are all textbook definitions, and they play into how we see people. This affects us all because we are a community made up of just that, a lot of people. Think of all the friends or acquaintances you've made on the forum. Did you always get along, or were you friends right from the start? What about some of the people you no long have contact with, or despise; did you really like them at one time? What changed? Sitting down and really getting to know them? Meeting them in person?
All too often we are left at the mercy of our own perception of people and what they present to go by. It's all we have to go on, until we start to get to know them for what they really are, good or bad. There is just about every kind of person on our forum. Some people are really kind, generous, helpful people. Others have a permanent bad attitude for whatever reasons. Some are extremely social and open to meeting everyone, while others are extremely shy. While some come off really smart, others may come off flighty or misinformed. Perceptions, perceptions, perceptions.
That does not come close to running the gamut of quirks, attitudes, personalities, and traits out there. For all those genuine traits above, there are those who put out one front or another that is not one of their own, strictly as a ploy to deceive people into getting what they want. Others give off any combination of the above, not even trying to, when they may, are may not be that way. So we are left to perceive what we chose to, by however little we know to work with.
Peoples posting habits are about as good as we have to go on, short of talking to each other. If I see someone who's posts I usually enjoy, I may check out their profile, and posting history to get to know a little about them. Do I think I know them strictly by their posts? Of course I don't, but I feel I get a better hold to begin with by what they say, how they say it, and a general "attitude" by which they carry themselves. If they are generally helpful, playful, friendly, or nice people, I'm interested and may drop a pm to introduce myself, or just comment that I like their style. If they respond and we start a friendship, fantastic, if they don't, that's ok too. If they have an overall shitty disposition, are an asshole, or just plain mean because they can, then they can stay in their garbage can. I don't give them "credit" because they make a good post every once in a while when the sun actually touches them in a way they like. It's me going on my perceptions, but at least I "try" to take their history into account, more than a couple single posts.
Of course if anybody that I'm extremely close to has had a very bad experience with someone, they are already starting on the bottom of the ladder depending on the situation. It doesn't rule my opinion but definitely puts me on my guard. My friends don't "have" to like each other, but most of my friends share most of the same good qualities which is what drew me to each to begin with.
Which brings me to the last area. Those that may come off one way sometimes, but are really not, and not because they intentionally conceal, but just the fact that mere posting when they are bored, is misleading. I can post in silly stuff in the "count down" thread (6,5,4,3,2) a million times and you'll never know me as well as you would had you read one of my blogs one time. But you may perceive that there isn't much to me because of it. Then you get to meet me at a gathering and come away with a completely different feeling about me. No longer a perception. You've met me, talked to me, get a idea of my sense of humor, the way I treat others in person, the affection I show. For the most part, if you take the time on here, you aren't much surprised in person by others, other than what they look like, because that's a whooooole different part of the brain that affects that. But most of the time I'm not shocked by people here when meeting them in person, mostly because they are a lot like they are here. "Most" of the time the only real difference is that they may be more shy in real life than on here.
BUT, there will be the times that you were wrong. You may have an argument, cross word, one little off putting incident with someone that dominates your perception. There might have just been an attitude in a single thread that you perceived was directed at you. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't, but regardless you harped on it and it changed or set the way you look at a person. Then you meet them in real life, sit down around them, talked to them, and got to know "them" as a person and not a figure behind a screen. And you walked away completely changed in the way you look at them. It's a great feeling. I think we need that every once and a while to keep us in check. To remind us, "don't be too quick to judge", you may be missing out. It happened to me recently and really has been a blessing. I'm thankful for it, and the person it has brought into my life. And don't be too quick to discredit your friends either. (God this has happened to me too many times in the last year) You are friends with them for a reason, you trust their judgment and ask for it all the time, so when they give you better knowledge than you have on your own, take it, absorb it, and take it into serious account with your own perception.
And lastly, don't discredit friends opinions. Granted they love, and wants what is best for you, but don't perceive their motives as trying to make you feel good because they are wearing rose colored glasses. People don't have to pay a complement ever, and sometimes its even harder to give them to a friend then a stranger, so when they come, listen and appreciate it; its why you love them in the first place.
Perception, perception, perception.....who knew.
They are all textbook definitions, and they play into how we see people. This affects us all because we are a community made up of just that, a lot of people. Think of all the friends or acquaintances you've made on the forum. Did you always get along, or were you friends right from the start? What about some of the people you no long have contact with, or despise; did you really like them at one time? What changed? Sitting down and really getting to know them? Meeting them in person?
All too often we are left at the mercy of our own perception of people and what they present to go by. It's all we have to go on, until we start to get to know them for what they really are, good or bad. There is just about every kind of person on our forum. Some people are really kind, generous, helpful people. Others have a permanent bad attitude for whatever reasons. Some are extremely social and open to meeting everyone, while others are extremely shy. While some come off really smart, others may come off flighty or misinformed. Perceptions, perceptions, perceptions.
That does not come close to running the gamut of quirks, attitudes, personalities, and traits out there. For all those genuine traits above, there are those who put out one front or another that is not one of their own, strictly as a ploy to deceive people into getting what they want. Others give off any combination of the above, not even trying to, when they may, are may not be that way. So we are left to perceive what we chose to, by however little we know to work with.
Peoples posting habits are about as good as we have to go on, short of talking to each other. If I see someone who's posts I usually enjoy, I may check out their profile, and posting history to get to know a little about them. Do I think I know them strictly by their posts? Of course I don't, but I feel I get a better hold to begin with by what they say, how they say it, and a general "attitude" by which they carry themselves. If they are generally helpful, playful, friendly, or nice people, I'm interested and may drop a pm to introduce myself, or just comment that I like their style. If they respond and we start a friendship, fantastic, if they don't, that's ok too. If they have an overall shitty disposition, are an asshole, or just plain mean because they can, then they can stay in their garbage can. I don't give them "credit" because they make a good post every once in a while when the sun actually touches them in a way they like. It's me going on my perceptions, but at least I "try" to take their history into account, more than a couple single posts.
Of course if anybody that I'm extremely close to has had a very bad experience with someone, they are already starting on the bottom of the ladder depending on the situation. It doesn't rule my opinion but definitely puts me on my guard. My friends don't "have" to like each other, but most of my friends share most of the same good qualities which is what drew me to each to begin with.
Which brings me to the last area. Those that may come off one way sometimes, but are really not, and not because they intentionally conceal, but just the fact that mere posting when they are bored, is misleading. I can post in silly stuff in the "count down" thread (6,5,4,3,2) a million times and you'll never know me as well as you would had you read one of my blogs one time. But you may perceive that there isn't much to me because of it. Then you get to meet me at a gathering and come away with a completely different feeling about me. No longer a perception. You've met me, talked to me, get a idea of my sense of humor, the way I treat others in person, the affection I show. For the most part, if you take the time on here, you aren't much surprised in person by others, other than what they look like, because that's a whooooole different part of the brain that affects that. But most of the time I'm not shocked by people here when meeting them in person, mostly because they are a lot like they are here. "Most" of the time the only real difference is that they may be more shy in real life than on here.
BUT, there will be the times that you were wrong. You may have an argument, cross word, one little off putting incident with someone that dominates your perception. There might have just been an attitude in a single thread that you perceived was directed at you. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't, but regardless you harped on it and it changed or set the way you look at a person. Then you meet them in real life, sit down around them, talked to them, and got to know "them" as a person and not a figure behind a screen. And you walked away completely changed in the way you look at them. It's a great feeling. I think we need that every once and a while to keep us in check. To remind us, "don't be too quick to judge", you may be missing out. It happened to me recently and really has been a blessing. I'm thankful for it, and the person it has brought into my life. And don't be too quick to discredit your friends either. (God this has happened to me too many times in the last year) You are friends with them for a reason, you trust their judgment and ask for it all the time, so when they give you better knowledge than you have on your own, take it, absorb it, and take it into serious account with your own perception.
And lastly, don't discredit friends opinions. Granted they love, and wants what is best for you, but don't perceive their motives as trying to make you feel good because they are wearing rose colored glasses. People don't have to pay a complement ever, and sometimes its even harder to give them to a friend then a stranger, so when they come, listen and appreciate it; its why you love them in the first place.
Perception, perception, perception.....who knew.
